Pilgrim Station Shuts Down After Leak Found

Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant shut down Thursday afternoon after a leaking feedwater valve was identified and could not be isolated. The plant is scheduled to go back online just after 3 p.m. today.

The steam leak in a check valve, part of the cooling system, and was discovered while the reactor was operating at 50 percent of capacity so that workers could conduct planned maintenance on the main condenser, Pilgrim Spokesperson Carol Whitman said.

The reactor had to be completely shut down before workers could determine what caused the steam leak and make repairs. Whitman had no estimate on when the reactor would be restarted and said there was no threat to public safety.

According to a statement released by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Public Affairs Office: "[T]he station entered a 24 hour cold shutdown action statement due to the inability to provide a manual isolation for a main feedwater line check valve that had been declared inoperable due to a leak....Because there is no ability to manually isolate the primary containment penetration the station is required to be in cold shutdown within 24 hours...

"Currently, preparations are being completed to conduct the reactor shutdown and to initiate check valve repairs.

"This event had no impact on the health and safety of the public. The USNRC Senior Resident Inspector was onsite and has been notified."

The electrical lineup is normal and all safety related equipment required for shutdown and cooldown are operable.